Self loading utility knife

Abstract

A self-loading utility knife including an elongate handle having an internal chamber defining an axis and at one end is flat aperture for the passage of an active blade. The flat aperture defines a cutting plane extending through said handle along the axis. A blade-holder is slidably mounted in the chamber for movements in directions along the axis and is adapted to secure a single active blade for movement through the aperture when the blade holder is in the extended position. A blade-holder release button is coupled to the blade holder and is slidingly movable relative to the handle to move blade holder between retracted and extended positions. The handle has a blade compartment which is open to the chamber and can receive a stack of spare blades when a cover to the compartment is opened and blades can be shifted transversely relative to the axis into the chamber. The blade holder is provided with a recess having a depth no greater than the thickness of one blade to allow at least a portion of a single blade to be received in a retaining relationship within the recess to cause an end-most blade in the stack to be received within said recess to follow the movements of the blade holder. A spring biases the blades in the blade compartment inwardly in the direction of the blade holder. A blade releasing disc on the blade holder selectively locks a blade to the blade holder when the blade holder is in the extended position. The blade holder only receives a single blade within the recess. A belt clip s provided on the compartment cover.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 175,234 filed on May 4, 2009, which provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention generally related to a hand tools, and more specifically to a self loading utility knife with a quick release blade mechanism.[0004]2. Description of the Prior Art[0005]Conventional utility knives have various types of structures including fixed, foldable and retractable. They are generally used to cut paper, fabric, and leather. The Chinese Patent Application No. 93208241.6 (Publication Date: Jun. 22, 1994) disclosed “a retractable rope-cut utility knife”, in which a blade stored in a handle is extended out step by step by moving a slider. However, it is not convenient to replace the blade. The Chinese Patent Application No. 03223149.0 (Publication Date: Dec. 24, 2003) disclosed ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]It is another object of the invention to provide a retractable self loading utility knife that is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

[0009]It is yet another object of the invention to provide a retractable self loading utility knife of the type under discussion that is easy and convenient to use.

[0011]It is still a further object of the invention to provide a self loading utility knife as in the previous objects that is easy to load with a supply of blades.

[0012]It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a utility knife the previous objects that includes a safety mechanism for preventing inadvertent movement of the carriage and, therefore, the blade mounted on it, to the extended operative and exposed position.

[0014]It is an additional object of the invention to provide the utility knife as in the previous objects that provides a smooth operation, includes a quick release blade mechanism that is only accessible when the blade supporting carriage is in its extended position thereby concealing the blade release mechanism in the retracted position of the carriage so that the blade cannot be inadvertently released.

Problems solved by technology

However, it is not convenient to replace the blade.

However, the following problems exist.

The structure is complex; when replacing a blade, a user needs to release the lock member first and then rotate the top cover, which is complicated and inconvenient.

This utility knife is also disadvantageous because extra tools are used when the blade is replaced.

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